Shall articles such as cigarettes



Sept. 18 1923.

w. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND PACKING SMALL ARTICLES sucn AS CIGARETTES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 13, 1921 mm 1% mm m M 47 /W mad 4 1 46B 246 Sept 18 w. E. MOLHNS MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND PACKING SMALL ARTICLES SUCH AS CIGARETTES Filed Jun 13, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept,v 18 1923. 1,468,246 w. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND PACKING SMALL ARTICLES SUCH AS CIGARET'IES Filed June 13, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 18 1923. 1,468,246

W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND PACKING SMALL ARTICLES SUCH AS CIGARETTES Filed June 15, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 b a m in Q m r\ q I Sept. 18 1923.

W. E. MOLINS MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND PACKING SMALL ARTICLES SUCH AS CIGARETTES Filed June 15, 1921 6 SheetsdSheet 5 Sept. 18,1923.

W. E. MQLENS MACHINE FOR WRAPPING AND PACKING SMALL ARTICLES SUCH AS CIGARETTES Filed June 15] a sheebs sheet 6 Patented Sept. 18, 1923.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER EVERETT norms, or Lennon, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR WRAIEPING AND PACKING SMALL ARTICLES SUCH AS CIGARETT ES.

Application filed June 13, 1521.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER EvEnE'nr MOLINS, a citizen of the .United States of America, residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Machines for \Vrapping and Packing Small Articles Such as Cigarettes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for wrapping and packing small articles such as cigarettes.

The particular object of the invention is to provide a machine adapted to work in cooperation with a cigarette conveying machine of the kind wherein bunches of cigarettes are continuously carried along to be packcted on an endless conveyor system such for example as is described in the specification of British Letters Patent No. 13957 of 1915. The invention however is also applicable for use with machines in which the bunches of cigarettes are intermittently fed.

According to the invention the wrapping machine is so arranged that the wrapping material is continuously fed from a reel or the like, cut into desired lengths, applied to and folded or wrapped round each bunch of cigarettes on the conveyor system without affecting the continuous feed of the wrapping material or the movement of the bunches of cigarettes.

The wrapped bunches of cigarettes are then passed to the packeting portion of the machine. This portion of the machine coinprises a magazine: adapted to hold a series of superposed open mouthed packets, and an oscillating mouth-piece or funnel which is adapted to be moved into engagement with the mouth of the lowest packet and into which the ciga ettes or other articlesv are forced by the filling means. The filling means also operate to force the articles into the packet and to remove the filled packet, allowing the next packeton the magazine to drop into the filling position. Means are provided for holding the packet being filled in position until the filling is complete, said means then yielding to allow the filled packet to pass away and returning automatically to hold the next packet in position.

To enable the invention to be fully understood it will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan View of the wrapping Serial No. 477,202.

portion of the machine constructed accordng to one :l'orm oi the invention.

Fig. is a plan view of the machine bed plate being removed to chine.

Fig. 1- is a plain view of the knife shewing the various'positions it takes up during its operation.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the knife in position A looking at Fig. 4' in the direction 0-; the arrow A.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are side elevations shewthe progressive stages of the folding of the packet at the points a, Z), 0, Fig. 3 respectively and l Fig. 9 is a side view of the completely folded packets. r I

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the packeting portion of the machine constructed according to the invention, the parts being in the position in which the cigarettes are about to enter the packets.

Fig. 11 isan elevation of the apparatus as seen from the right of Fig. 10 certain portions thereof being removed.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 with the parts in the position in which the filled packet is being ejected.

In the drawings a bunch of cigarettes 1 is shewn advancing on a bed plate 2 under the action of a pusher or carrier 8 mounted on a pindle 3. forming part of an endless The conveyor as shown in Fig. 1 comprises side chains 80 one on each side of the machine bed 2 and below the same,

the spindles 3 carrying the pushers being mounted between the chains. The machine bed 2 is provided with a slot 81 through which the connecting pieces 82 of the push ers project so that the pushers slide on the bed plate. This conveyor and pushers are of known construction. It will be un-' derstood that the conveyor is continuously driven-and carries a series of bunches 1.

The wrapping mechanism is carried on a suitable framing 4r mounted on standards 5 arranged on a suitable part of the machine frame and comprises'a pair of feed rollers 6, 7 adapted to be rotated continuously to feed a strip of wrapping material 8 drawn from a supply reel (not shewn). The roller 7 is mounted in a arrier 9 pivoted at 10 to an arm 11 which in turn is pivoted at 12 to the frame. This arm 11 is held in working position by a tension spring 13 attached to a pin let slidable in a socket 15 in the arm and to a pin 16 slidable in a fixed sleeve 17. By removing the pins 1 and 16 the roller 7 can be swung out of engagement with the roller 6 and may be held out of engagement by means of a sliding pin'lS carried in the frame, adapted to enter a hole 19 in the arm 11. The roller 6 is mounted on a spindle 20, having a bevel wheel 21 gearing with a bevel wheel 22 carried on a vertical spindle 23. The Wheel22 is driven by a bevel wheel 2st carried on a spindle 25 mounted in the sleeve 17 and adapted to be continuously driven by a wheel 26. This wheel 26 is the main drive wheel of the machine and may be either a gear wheel or a friction wheel,'power being applied thereto by any suitable means not shown, such as a chain or belt.

The material 8 passes between the feed rollers 6,7 through guides 27 (Fig. 3) into a chute 28 and through a slot 29 in the bed plate (Figs. 1 and vertically across and below the path of the cigarettes 1.

The advancing ends of the cigarettes 1 meet the material 8 and cai y it between the folders contained in a box or casing 30. At the instant when the cigarettes thus meet the stripS the latter is severed at a point just below the guides 27 by a knife 31 actuated in the following manner. The blade 31 (Figs. 53, and is mounted on a spindle 32 pivotally carried in a sleeve 03 which is clamped upon the spindle by an arm secured by a bolt 35, so that the sleeve is carried round as the spindle 23 rotates in the direction of the arrow 4. The spindle 32 has a coiled spring on its lower end, one end of which is secured to the cap 3'? screwed on the spindle, the other end being attached to the sleeve A fixed stop 38 is arranged in the path of the knife, and the latter has a thickened portion adapted to meet the stop as shewn in the dotted position A Fig. 4.

As the spindle 23 continues to rotate the stop 38 pressing on the portion 39 detains the knife forcing it back until the portion slips therefrom (position B Fig. l). During this operation the spring 36 has been compressed and when the knife leaves the stop, the spring exerts its force and throws the knife rapidly across the material 8, severing it so rapidly that there is no suitable limit stop l0 is provided on the arm for the knife. The severed strip 8 is continuously advanced and is forced by tl e cigarettes into the casing 30, the first a tion being to form the strip into a U shaped packet covering the top and bottom horizontal sides and he bottom of the bunch 1 as shewn in 1g. The casing contains folders 41 on each side thereof of any suitable construction which the packet passes through, fold the ovcrlapp' sides and turn in the bottom corners in successive stages indicated i'n'Figs. 6, 7 and 8 which are side elevationsof the packe showing the progress of the folding ope ation at the points a, i 0, respectively of its travel through the folders i. 3. These folders, as has been said, are of known construction and form the material 8 about the cigarettes, which then pass out a completely folded package 22 open at its mouth, as shown separately in The finished packet is shewn in 9 and it will be seenthatit is open at the month.

By means of the screw collars 5 mounted on the standards 5, the knife and the whole wrapping apparatus are adjustable in relation to the cigarettes so that the wrapping material may be located centrally with the cigarettes. It will be understood that any suitable known folding arrangements may be employed for folding the vrappingi naterial Srafter it has been placed around the cigarettes in a U shaped packet as indicated above.

In the apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated the wrapping material is fed vertically into the path of the bunches of cigarettes, but obviously the apparatus could be modified to feed the said material. horizontally or at any desired angle into the path of the cigarettes, without departing from the sp iri. of the invention. For example the present apparatus could he so arranged that the material is fed horizontally, and the cigarettes vertically or at any other suitable angle.

The folded packet 22- shewn in Fig. 9, then passes to the packeting portion of the machine illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12.

its shewn the packeting apparatus comprises amagazine 1 supported on the' bed plate 2 whiclrforms the bottom thereof. The magazine containsa series of super posed open mouthed packets 4: which may be continuously or otherise fed therein through the chute 5. The packets are fed into the magazine with their open mouths towards the filling side 6, and openings 7 are provided at the-bottoms of the sides 6 and 8'. An oscillating filling funnel 9 may be introduced through the opening 7 in the side 6, the funnel thus entering the open mouth of the lowestpacket. The funnel 9" is mounted on an arm 10, rigidly connected to an arm 11 which is pivoted at 12 to a suitable portion of the frame, a spring 13 bein provided which normally holds the funne 19 clear of the front opening 7 (See dotted line position Fig. 10).

he filling funnel is so formed that its opening at the smaller end is considerably smaller than the articles to be pushed therethrough, but can yield under pressure to allow the articles to be forced thi ough same. To this end the funnel may be formed of spring blades for example suitably mounted in any convenient manner. An adjustable stop 14 is provided for limiting the motion of the funnel towards the magazine.

A pivoted tongue'l5 is provided at the back 8 of the magazine adjacent the opening 7' therein; normally held in contact with the end of the lowest packet by a roller 16 carried on a pivoted arm 1'7 under the action of a tension spring 18'.

A notch 19' is provided in the tongue 15" in which the, roller 16 normally rests, the surface of the tongue around the notch being are shaped so that the roller can ride thereon when the tongue is pressed back from the, magazine. It will be understood that the roller 16' operates to force the tongue 15 back into engagement with the lowest packet in the magazine when a packet has been ejected. V v

This packeting portion of the machine is placed as indicated in Fig. 3, with the oscillating filling funnelS) arranged in the path of the wrapped packet 22 issuing from the casing 30. The operation of the apparatus is as follows :Each wrapped bunch of cigarettes 22 on the conveyor issuing from the casing 30 passes along under the action of its pusher 3 until it meets the wider end of the tunnel 9. The pusher 3 forces the bunch into the funnel, the spring blades or sides of the funnel being arranged to offer a greater resistance to the passage of the cigarettes therethrough than the spring 13' which holds the funnel 9 away from the opening 7 in the magazine. Continued movement of the pusher 3 there fore carries the funnel 9 into the opening 7 and causes the smaller end of the tunnel to enter the open mouth of the lowest packet. Further movement of the pusher 3 then overcomes the resistance of the funnel and causes the cigarettes to be pushed there through into the packet. When the cigarettes reach the bottom oi": the packet the continued movement of the pusher 3 causes the packet to be ejected through the opening 7' in the back of the magazine the tongue 15 yielding as shewn in Fig. 12. When the packet is entirely ejected, the next packet in the magazine falls into position for 1511- ing, the tongue 15 returning to the position shewn in Fig. 10, and thefunnel 9 springing back clear of the magazine as shown in dotted lines Fig. 10, as will be readily understood. The next wrapped bunch 22 of cigarettes arrives and the operations are repeated. V

The bottom of the tunnel 9 is slotted or grooved for the passage or the pushers 3, and the slot 81 is. continued through the magazine when the invention is used with filling apparatus of the kind illustrated.

If however the filling member is of the known reciprocating plunger type, the plungerwvill. be withdrawn soon as the packet has been pushed out of the magazine; thus allowing the tongue 15 to return to its original position and allowing the funnel 9 to be lifted clear of the opening' 7, and also the fall of the next packet into the tilling position in the magazine. Y

In the example hereinbeit'ore described the oscillating mouthpiece or tunnel is operated by the movement of the cigarettes under the action or" the filling means. Obviously, the mouthpiece or funnel could be operated in other ways, for instance, the filling means may operate thereon other than through the cigarettes, or independent means may be provided for positively operating said mouthpiece or funnel.

Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claim p 1. In a machine for packing cigarettes or other articles and in combination a con veyor for moving the articles to be packed, a magazine adapted to receive a series of superposed packets with their open mouths arranged towards the articles moved by the conveyor, and an oscillating mouthpiece which receives the articles to be packed, operated by the movement of said articles to insert same in the lowermost packet in the magazine automatically.

2. In a machine for packing cigarettes or other articles and in combination a conveyor for moving the articles to be packed, a magazine adapted to receive a series of superposed packets with their open mouths arranged towards the articles moving on the conveyor, a funnel pivotally mounted adjacent the magazine with its -smallerend towards said magazine and a spring normally holding said funnel clear of the filling side of the magazine, the articles moving on the conveyor being caused to enter the wider end of the funnel said funnel being so shaped that sufficient resistance to the assage of the articles therethrough is obtained to cause the movement of the articles to force the smaller end of the funnel into the lowermost packet in the magazine and also to force the articles out of the funnel into the packet.

3. In a machine for packing cigarettes or other articles, and in combination, a con- 'veyer for moving the articles to bepaclied, a magazine adapted to receive a series of superposed packets with their open months a ranged towards the articles moving on the conveyor, a funnel formed of spring fingers pivotally mounted adjacent the magazine with its smaller end towards said magazine and a spring normally holding said tunnel clear of the filling side of the magazine, the articles moving on the conveyor being caused to enter the wider end of the funnel, the spring fingers of the funnel being arranged to give sufficient resistance to the passage of: the articles th'erethrough to enable the resistance of the spring which holds the mouthpiece away from the magazine to be overcome to allow the articles to enter the lowermost packet in the magazine.

l. In a machine for wrapping and pack ing cigarettes or other small articles and in combination means for moving bunches of articles in succession, means for feeding a strip of wrapping material continuously across the path of the moving bunches of articles so that the latter make contact therewith, means for automatically severing a portion of said strip without interfering with the continuous feed of same, means for wrapping the severed portion around the articles without affecting the motion of the articles, a magazine adapted to receive a series of superposed packets with their open mouths arranged towards the wrapped articles moving on the conveyor and an oscillating-mouthpiece which receives the'wrapped articles to be packed, operated by the movement or" said articles to insert same in the lowermost packet in the ma zine automatically.

in a machine for e garettes or other a "Lien, a conveyor n wrap/pin" and packing 'tic es ant combinag the articles to be wrapped, a set of rotating rollers for continuously drawing wrapping material across the path of the a'ti les moving on the conveyor so that the articles makes contact therewith, a'rapid action knife for automaticall severing a portion of said wrapping mate without interfering with the continuous feed of same and folder plates arranged on each side of the conveyor between which the severed portion of wrapping.-material is carried by the articles moving on the con veyor to wrap said severed portion around the articles without attecting the motion of the articles, a magazine adapted to re ceive a series of superposed packets with their open mouths arranged towards the wrapped articles moving on the conveyor and; an oscillating mouthpiece which receives the wrapped articles to be packed, operated by the movement of said articles to insert same in the lowermost packet in the magazine automatically.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

WALTER EVERETT norms. 

